This week, I started module 2 of my Webpage Technologies course, which covers Digital Accessibility. Prior to the start of this module, I was unaware of the issues surrounding the lack of accommodations available for people with disabilities within digital spaces. Something that I learned and up to that point had failed to understand, is that the fact that I am able to easily navigate through online content does not mean that it is that way for everyone.
Introduction to Digital Accessibility
No matter the factors involved, digital spaces are meant to work for everyone. However, not all digital spaces are equally accessible; the way they are designed and coded determines how accessible they are. According to The World Wide Web Consortium’s (W3C) Web Accessibility Initiative (WAI), which provides a variety of technical and educational resources, web accessibility encompasses auditory, cognitive, neurological, physical, speech, and visual disabilities. Although many digital spaces have began efforts in an attempt to become more accessible, the truth is that most of these efforts are limited either by the lack of knowledge of web developers and designers or by the investment that following accessibility guidelines poses in comparison to not doing so.
The range of accessibility that exists among different spaces the consequence of no guidelines being enforced. Although the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) requires web content to be accessible for state and local governments as well as for businesses open to the public, there’s no specific set of guidelines or level of accessibility to be met. In physical spaces, accessibility is enforced with specific measures, however, it is not the same for digital spaces, which makes finding a fully accessible website a true challenge.
Digital Accessibility Explained
Digital accessibility refers to making digital documents, websites, and apps accessible to everyone. The short video below explains in detail how the 57 million Americans with disabilities experience web content and the alternate methods they use to navigate it. It also covers the main characteristics of accessible websites and apps as well as the W3C’s Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
The Importance of Digital Accessibility
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), about 1.3 billion people or 16% of the world’s population self-identify as having a disability. This makes people with disabilities the largest minority group worldwide. Although the main purpose of digital accessibility is accommodating individuals within this group, we must also consider the benefits that digital accessibility has for people without disabilities. As human beings, we cannot escape from aging. As we get older, it becomes increasingly difficult for us to perform certain tasks as effectively as we used to. In our lives, we may also experience “temporary disabilities” that impair us from performing tasks the way we regularly do. Overall, it is certain that, to some extent, we all benefit from digital accessibility.
Promoting a Culture of Inclusion
The best way to encourage the sense of social responsibility regarding accessibility to digital spaces is spreading awareness. I admire the work that the W3C is doing to make digital accessibility the norm. Although it requires good planning, designing, and coding to develop an accessible digital space, it all starts by becoming familiar with everything that digital accessibility encompasses and its importance. As the world becomes more technological and digitally-oriented, accessibility is a factor that we cannot leave aside. Accessibility should not be an after thought but an element to consider from the start in every project regarding digital spaces. I believe that learning about digital accessibility is essential for everyone since it can be applied in any context where digital resources are involved. This blog post is my way of spreading awareness about this topic which I consider to be of upmost importance. I hope you find this information useful and I encourage you to share it with others.
Hi Felipe!
This post not only motivated me to learn more about web accessibility but it encouraged me to make it a personal mission to spread awareness. Your use of emotion and statistics helped me pick up on the message you were intending to send, which is the importance behind making the web accessible to everyone. When you mentioned how accessibility to everyone should be a priority when creating a project rather than a last minute thought, I was fully engaged in the words that followed. I’m excited to read your future posts!
Hi Felipe, I agree that before learning about digital accessibility it was something I never realized having, and it’s definitely something we take for granted. Also, your comparison of ADA requirements for physical spaces versus online spaces was very interesting. I wonder how these requirements can be more widespread in the virtual space.